The Kind Folk

July 4, 2016
Revered horror maven Campbell (Ghosts Know) combines suspense, fantasy, and mystery in this short novel, which never quite hangs together. When Luke Arnold’s family appears on a daytime talk show to allay his father’s suspicions that Luke was actually fathered by his overly involved uncle, they reveal instead that Luke isn’t related to any of the Arnolds. Luke, a successful stage comedian specializing in mimicry, then begins a meandering quest throughout England to discover the truth of his origins. Spurred by a series of tragedies striking those who might tell him what he hopes to know, including the uncle responsible for littering Luke’s childhood with stories of fairies and their ilk, Luke arranges his stage gigs to take him to the magical places of England and pursue his growing suspicion that he is, in fact, a changeling. Despite the urgency introduced with his partner’s pregnancy and the impending birth of their son, Luke’s sudden and unconvincing awkwardness around his family undermines much of the emotional arc of the story. The prose is sparse and compelling, but the tale is ultimately unsatisfying.

August 1, 2016
As the title suggests, Campbell's (Think Yourself Lucky, 2014) latest creeps around the world of fairies. Horror fans will not be disappointed, because these fairies are the grotesquely large-headed, skittering-down-walls-on-all-fours typeno Tinkerbells here. The story opens with Luke, a comedian with an uncanny ability to imitate people, discovering that a DNA test proves his mom and dad are not actually his parents. All involved assume he was switched at birth, but anyone schooled in fairy lore should realize this is a changeling story. Uncle Terrance, who always doted over Luke and raised him on eerie tales of the Kind Folk, seems to know something about Luke's true origins but dies before he can explain. Using clues from Terrance's journal, Luke begins a horrifying journey of self-discovery. Truly disturbing imagery, such as curtains that seem to stir in Luke's hands as if he has roused handfuls of parasites, slowly increases in intensity, creating a shudder-worthy experience. The psychological torture Luke endures, coupled to Campbell's imagery, will delight both Lovecraft and Clive Barker fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)